We hope this message finds you safe and healthy. As we all navigate through this unprecedented time and do our part to slow the spread of the ongoing pandemic, we'd like to shine a light on a group that has supported the REVEL Big Cottonwood event for years: Cottonwood Heights businesses.

If you have ever ran REVEL Big Cottonwood, then you have benefited from the patience and generosity of these local businesses who graciously allow us to close down the streets near their establishments during the race. We encourage you to pay it forward by returning that generosity and supporting them through these turbulent times.

As extra incentive to do so, we have donated our REVEL 12 oz Tru Flask tumblers, a $15 value, to several local businesses. You can redeem one for free when you support them.

Buy something, get a tumbler. That's it! Easy enough. Did we mention they are double-wall vacuum insulated and keep your beverage hot or cold for hours?

We realize it isn't much. But we believe that big change starts with small acts of kindness. We could all use a helping hand right now, no matter how big or small... so let's start with our neighbors. 

Please help us in the effort to support these local businesses and spread the word by using #REVELlocal.

Redeem your REVEL Tru Flask by supporting any of the organizations below; just mention the #REVELlocal campaign. We want to thank our REVEL family for doing their part during this time.

We're going to get through this together!

1891 E Fort Union Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 www.cancuncafeslc.com Take advantage of our takeout, curbside, or delivery options of our current family special for $15.99.	6973 S 1300 E Cottonwood Heights, UT 84047 www.caferio.com  Cafe Rio’s kitchens are open and ready to serve you through Curbside Pickup that is ordered ahead at CafeRio.com or in the app, Free Delivery through Door Dash or Postmates. Together, we’ll keep our communities running.	1146 E Fort Union Cottonwood Heights, UT 84047 www.vesselkitchen.com Use promo code 'NICK25' on all online orders at all of our locations to save 25% off your next order.
1346 Fort Union Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 www.evenstevens.com/places/ utah-locations/cottonwood-heights/ We're doing our part to help the community.  $2 Kids Meals all day/every day, 10% off orders all day/every day, Curbside Pickup, and $1 Direct Delivery.	SAOLA Restaurant & Lounge 7307 Canyon Centre Parkway Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 https://saola-slc.com/  Order To-Go today from locally owned Saola Restaurant & Lounge.	7835 S Highland Drive Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 zaferancafe.com Locally-owned Middle Eastern restaurant. Curbside and delivery available.
1869 Fort Union Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 http://rockymixers.com/ We stock a variety of mixers and bitters, ice, and snacks and offer online delivery.  Find us right next door to the State Liquor Store on Fort Union Blvd.	12256 S 900 E Draper, UT 84020 www.zenergymassage.net Just like last year, we'll be taking care of all your needs at the Big Cottonwood Marathon finish line this year. Locally owned and operated, let us help you get to the start line feeling great! Buy a $50 o $70 gift card and receive $10 off, use coupon code Revel10.  Buy a $100 gift card and receive $20 off, use code Revel20.  Let us help you with all your needs now.	2477 Fort Union Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 https://skimo.co/ At Skimo Co, we believe in getting out in the mountains and exercising! Spring touring and mountaineering is some of the best (and most fun) cross training you can do for your upcoming running season. Visit us online for all of your outdoor options this Spring.
6936 Promenade Drive Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 801-903-0187 Our licensed massage therapist has over 9 years of experience and a passion for helping provide pain relief and relaxation to our clients. We provide deep tissue massages and specialize in providing relief to athletes. Mention this email and receive $10 off your first session.	6936 Promenade Drive Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 https://www.notemassage.com/ We understand how the body functions and the proper mechanics necessary to help you maintain and retain your goals. Through our bodywork, we are also able to address any other dysfunctions of the body that may be hindering you. Allow us to help you today!	1339 Fort Union Cottonwood Heights, UT 84047 www.utahskis.com With our Ski 'n See retail locations currently closed, you can still support us by shopping online.
6910 S Highland Dr Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 www.thejoint.com/utah/ cottonwoodheights/cottonwood-heights-45002 We are open for your needs during these turbulent times.	6360 S 3000 E Ste 125 Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 www.rptutah.com Advanced, Personalized Care To Get You Back To Work And Play Fast	6360 S 3000 E Ste 210 Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 www.albanoclinic.com Regenerative Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, and Wellness. Helping you to Move Better, Feel Better, & Live Better!
2028 E Fort Union Blvd P.O. Box 711169 Salt Lake City, UT 84171 www.cottonwoodinsurance.com Cottonwood Insurance Inc. is a full service independent insurance agency established in 1981. We take pride in being honest, friendly, and working hard to get our customers the best insurance coverage for the most affordable price. We are a full service insurance agency offering coverage in home, auto, business, workers compensation, health, life, and bonds. Call or text 801-943-5700, today!	1770 E Fort Union Blvd. Ste 100 Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 Call 801-942-0412 or email info@insurcon.com You run the race and we will run the quote!  We have in the inside track on Home/Earthquake Insurance and a low mileage program for Auto.  Own a business?  We outpace the comp on work comp, property and liability for all types of businesses.	Mountainland Title Insurance Agency 7084 S 2300 E, Ste 250 Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 mountainlandtitleutah.com With over 27 years of real estate experience, Spencer Ball and Mountainland Title is the best choice around. Call them today to see how they can help you out.
6985 Union Park Center, Ste 675 Cottonwood Heights, UT 84047 http://www.tdadental.com/ Utah's only local and largest dental HMO!	Stan Durrant DMD 1770 Fort Union Blvd. Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 Email:drdurrantdmd@gmail.com	6695 S 1300 E Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 www.rsgutah.com Retirement always looks so far away and the next thing you know you can see it in the distance. Our job is to learn about your goals, identify your dreams, and provide the smoothest road possible.
1931 East Fort Union Blvd. Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 www.mathnasium.com Mathnasium at home. You get the same instructors and Mathnasium Method as at our center, but online, in real time. Learning can happen anywhere there's an internet connection. Your child can attend regular sessions from the comfort of your own home.	Time Machine Media 6905 South 1300 East #223 Cottonwood Heights, UT 84107 www.slowmotiontimeachine.com Looking forward to celebrating with you when we can all gather again!	6845 S 1300 E Cottonwood Heights, UT 84047 We are a self-serve laundromat, featuring a newly renovated facility with brand new washers and dryers!
6990 South Park Center Drive Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/hawthorn-extended-stay/salt-lake-city-utah/hawthorn-suites-by-wyndham-salt-lake-city-fort-union/overview	6959 S Greenfield Way Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 www.trailsidedrycleaning.com/ Dry Cleaning is like hand sanitizer for your clothes. Our current special is get 3 Sweaters cleaned for $12.00. Come check us out for all your dry cleaning needs.	7183 S Union Park Avenue Cottonwood Heights, UT 84047 www.townestorage.com/self-storage/ut/cottonwood-heights/towne-storage-union-park/ Clean, affordable and safe local storage for all your personal and business needs.
2352 Fort Union Blvd. Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 www.healthypetsmw.com Let's keep your pets happy and healthy as well.  $10 off your next purchase of $40 or more, free delivery, and curbside service.

REVEL Mt Charleston on April 4th has been cancelled due to mass-gathering restrictions and permit regulations. REVEL Chilliwack on July 25th has been cancelled due to indefinite restrictions on international travel to Canada. Although deeply saddened by these cancellations, we are committed to joining the efforts to reduce the spread of the coronavirus and ensure the health of our runners and host communities. 

These cancellations have led to questions regarding the status of other scheduled REVEL events in 2020. As of now, all remaining REVEL events in 2020 are scheduled to proceed as planned. These events include:

-REVEL Rockies: June 6th, 2020

-REVEL Mount Hood: June 27th, 2020

-REVEL Big Cottonwood: September 12, 2020

-REVEL Big Bear: November 14, 2020

We emphasize that the coronavirus issue is evolving on a daily basis and therefore future plans may need to be adjusted. We will continue to monitor the ongoing situation as it unfolds throughout the coming months and comply with regulations of local and federal government health officials. 

Because many of our runners may naturally be hesitant to register for a race under the current circumstances, we wish to clarify our current plan for responding to the possibility of prolonged restrictions on events:

• -We remind runners that we have always had a very generous transfer/withdrawal/deferral policy that provides flexibility in times of uncertainty. Subject to certain deadlines, runners may use these policies to defer or withdraw from any race. Registered runners who are uncertain about their participation in the remaining 2020 REVEL events are invited to consider exercising these options.
•  
• -If a future REVEL event is forced to cancel due to health and safety regulations, we may attempt to postpone the race to a future date in 2020. In the event of a postponement, registered runners would automatically be deferred to the postponed race. If the new date is incompatible with a runner’s schedule, the runner will be allowed to defer their entire registration to a future REVEL event without incurring any fees.

• -Postponement is not always a viable option due to permit restrictions, venue availability, and weather conditions. If postponement is not possible, a race may be cancelled altogether for the 2020 year. Under this scenario, runners will be given the following two options:

1.       1. Defer registration and receive credit that can be used to register for any future REVEL race. Note that the regular deferral fees will be waived in the event of a cancellation so that runners will not incur any cost to defer.
2.  
3.       2. Complete a Virtual Race and receive a mailed race packet, free of charge. Race packets include a race shirt, medal, personalized bib, Tru Flask, Goodr sunglasses, REVEL running cap, customized result card, and a coupon code for a 20% discount on a REVEL merchandise purchase. 

Our sincere hope is that our remaining 2020 races will not be impacted by the current situation, and we are actively planning for that scenario. Given the policies outlined above, we encourage our runners to not hesitate to register for these events. The race production community is currently experiencing unprecedented turmoil. Those in our industry rely on constant registrations to enable operations to continue. We urge runners to support the industry by continuing to register for races, whether they be REVEL races or not, so long as those races have reasonable policies in place to deal with potential postponements or cancellations. 

Above all, we implore our runners to remain safe and healthy. We all share a common passion for distance running and cannot imagine life without. Yet in these uncertain times we must remember to put the overall health of our community above all other concerns. Look for opportunities to be an influence for good during this outbreak. Offer assistance to others as appropriate. Remember that we are all in this together.

We appreciate the patience of our loyal runners during these difficult times and look forward to REVELing with you all as soon as possible. 

We remind our participants of the very generous transfer/withdrawal/deferral policies that have been in place for several years. As runners ourselves, we understand that unforeseen circumstances can often interfere with planned events and we have therefore made it simple for our runners to transfer race entries to other individuals, defer race entries to a subsequent year, or withdraw altogether from the race. Given this generous policy, we encourage runners to not hesitate to register for our 2020 races.

All events associated with the REVEL Race Series are currently scheduled to take place as planned. The safety of our participants and volunteers is our absolute top priority and we are therefore monitoring the developing situation on a daily basis to ensure appropriate measures are taken.

The following additional precautions will be employed:

• -Increased hand sanitizer and hand washing stations at the expo, start venues, and finish area.
• -Screening of volunteers to ensure that no symptomatic individuals participate in the event.
• -Extensive training of volunteers and staff regarding appropriate sanitation and hygiene measures.
• -Frequent sanitization of high-touch surfaces at race venues.
• -Runners are discouraged from participating if they feel ill in any way.
• -Runners are encouraged to follow important health guidelines such as regularly washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes, and maintaining a safe distance from other individuals. 

A course strategy – and overall race strategy – is a must for optimal performance on race day. Whether this is your first REVEL Mt Charleston race and your goal is simply to finish, or you are veteran aiming for a PR or BQ, you should have a well-planned strategy for how you intend to manage the course!

The head coach of REVEL’s Online Coaching Program, who has run a Boston Qualifying time in all the REVEL marathons, including all four Mt Charleston Marathons in 2016-19, has prepared a detailed description of the 2020 Mt Charleston Marathon and Half-Marathon courses.

Managing the Course Based On Segments

A critical component of your strategy is the course profile itself. Where are the sharp descents? Where are the climbs? Where does the course “flatten” a bit?

You want to plan your race with course segments in mind, and with an overall strategy for varying paces throughout. Your varied paces will be dictated by the elevation losses and gains, and you want to know before the race where those variations will occur.

Generally, the Mt Charleston Marathon course can be divided into seven sections:

Mile 1: Warmup
Miles 2-4: Swift Downhill
Mile 5: Tiny Loop (with two short climbs)
Miles 6-21: Steady and Fast
Miles 22-23: Flatten Out
Mile 24: Get Past This Short Climb
Miles 25-26.2: Pick It Up for the Finish

The Mt Charleston Half-Marathon course can be divided into four similar sections:

Miles 1-8: Swift Downhill
Miles 9-10: Flatten Out
Mile 11: Get Past This Short Climb
Miles 12-13.1: Pick It Up for the Finish

You can study the courses yourself on the REVEL website. You can zoom in, use the interactive elevation chart, and get a feel for what lays ahead of you on race day.

If possible, you should drive the course before race day to get a feel for what the segments look and feel like. Knowing what to expect, and when, is helpful when preparing your course strategy. 

The marathon and half-marathon courses are summarized below based on the segments described above.

THE MARATHON COURSE

Mile 1: Warmup

Starting at almost 7,600’ elevation, the start of the marathon is near the Mt Charleston Lodge on Kyle Canyon Road. The first 1/10 mile is around a small hook shape on the road adjacent to the Lodge, and it is extremely narrow with a short climb. Once you make the turn on that loop, you will be heading back toward the staging area. Then, after you pass the Lodge, the next 1/4 mile climbs almost 60’ as you exit the starting area. This definitely should be just a nice easy warm up for you. Start out nice and slow, and conserve your energy. After you get past this first half-mile, the rest of mile 1 descends about 100' with zero climbing.

Miles 2-4: Swift Downhill

After the mile 1 marker, the next 3 miles drop well over 700’ total, with an average of 4.6% downhill grade and no climbing until the last 1/10 mile before the 4-mile marker. This is a segment where you do not want to get caught up with the pace of other runners if they are passing you. You still have many miles to go, and you want to conserve your energy for the miles ahead. If you feel yourself working too hard, then simply slow down.

Mile 5: Tiny Loop (with two short climbs)

As you approach mile 4, there is a climb of about 40’ as you approach The Mt Charleston Resort on your right. Once you pass the Resort, this short climb is over. Not long after that, just before mile 5, you will reach a roundabout (traffic circle) at the entrance to the United States Forest Service’s Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway. At this point, the course diverts from the main road – Kyle Canyon Road – into the visitor center parking lot. You will make a counterclockwise loop around the parking lot before re-entering the main road again.

The loop around the visitor center begins at mile 4.85 of the marathon. It ends at mile 5.2, so the total distance around the parking area is only about 1/3 mile. However, you will climb about 35’ for the first half of that loop, and then descend the same elevation as you exit the parking lot.

Miles 6-21: Steady and Fast

When you exit the visitor center parking area, you will be at roughly 6,600’ of elevation. For the next 16 miles, you will lose more than 3,700’ of elevation. That’s an average of about 4.4% elevation loss per mile, which is what makes this course so extremely fast. More importantly, there is only one climb in that entire stretch, and it happens about mile 12.5. That one is a short but very visible climb that is over fairly quickly: the entire climb is only about 1/8 of a mile long. Be wary of a sensation of “running too fast” in this entire stretch of the race. If you feel out of control, or if you feel yourself working “too hard” while running downhill, then ease back your effort.

Miles 22-23: Flatten Out

Just past mile 21, you will make a right turn onto the frontage road along U.S. 95. After the previous 16 miles of steady downhill, you will certainly feel how the 4% downhill grade quickly becomes a 2% downhill grade. Keep in mind that you will still lose about 226’ of elevation in this stretch of the race, with no elevation gain. However, the flatter terrain will make it feel like climbing.

Mile 24: Get Past This Short Climb

As you approach mile 23.2, with only three miles to go, you will make a right turn onto Grand Teton Drive. The elevation at that turn is 2,659’. Then you will run a short - but steep - climb to Fort Apache Road, where you will turn left. From that turn onto Fort Apache, it is just over a half-mile to “top out” a slow climb to mile 23.95, where the elevation is 2,690’. After that, the course begins the gradual descent to the finish. 

Miles 25-26.2: Pick It Up for the Finish

Once you reach mile 24, you can say to yourself "now downhill to the finish!" The elevation loss from mile 24 to the finish is over 170’ – a nice downhill for your final 2.2 miles! Better yet, you will encounter terrific crowds who will cheer you towards the finish line of the fast and beautiful Mt Charleston Marathon!

Summary of the Marathon Course

The Mt Charleston Marathon course loses roughly 5,100’ of elevation from start to finish. Over the 26.2-mile course, you likely will surprise yourself with your speed on the downhill segments. Although it is generally true that you never want to "go out too fast" in the opening miles of a marathon, remember that gravity is your friend, and you want to take advantage of the benefits of downhill running.

THE HALF-MARATHON COURSE

Miles 1-8: Swift Downhill

Starting at over 4,500’ of elevation, the course drops 1,660’ from the start to mile 8, with zero elevation gain in that stretch. That is an average of more than 200' per mile, which is a significant but manageable descent each mile. You will want to manage the early part of this downhill segment by easing into your pace, settling in for the long haul, and letting gravity pull you along at a comfortably fast pace. You should not feel as if you are running “too hard” or “too fast.” If you do, then you should ease back a bit and aim for a “comfortably hard” pace.

Miles 9-10: Flatten Out

Just past mile 8, you will make a right turn onto the frontage road along U.S. 95. After more than 8 miles of steady downhill, you will certainly feel how the 4% downhill grade quickly becomes a 2% downhill grade. Keep in mind that you will still lose about 200’ of elevation in this stretch of the race, with no elevation gain. However, the flatter terrain will make it feel like climbing.

Mile 11: Get Past This Short Climb

Just past mile 10, with about 3 miles to go, you will make a right turn onto Grand Teton Drive. The elevation at that turn is 2,659’. Then you will run a short - but steep - climb to Fort Apache Road, where you will turn left. From that turn onto Fort Apache, it is just over a half-mile to “top out” a slow climb to mile 10.8, where the elevation is 2,690’. After that, the course begins the gradual descent to the finish.

Miles 12-13.1: Pick It Up for the Finish

Once you reach mile 11, you can say to yourself "now downhill to the finish!" The elevation loss from mile 11 to the finish is over 170’ – a nice downhill for your final 2.1 miles! Better yet, you will encounter terrific crowds who will cheer you towards the finish line of the fast and beautiful Mt Charleston Half-Marathon!

Summary of the Half-Marathon Course

The Mt Charleston Half-Marathon course loses more than 2,000’ of elevation from start to finish. With an average loss of more than 150’ per mile, this one of the fastest half-marathon courses you will ever run. Over the 13.1-mile course, you likely will surprise yourself with your speed on the downhill segments.

Paul Carmona is the Online REVEL Coach who has designed training plans specifically for REVEL downhill courses. He is a 24-time REVEL Marathon Finisher and has run multiple Boston Qualifiers on every REVEL course. His current streak is 22 BQs in a row at REVEL marathons!

All events associated with the REVEL Race Series are scheduled to take place as planned. The safety of our participants and volunteers is our absolute top priority and we are therefore monitoring the developing situation on a daily basis to ensure appropriate measures are taken.

The following additional precautions will be employed:

• -Increased hand sanitizer and hand washing stations at the expo, start venues, and finish area.
• -Screening of volunteers to ensure that no symptomatic individuals participate in the event.
• -Extensive training of volunteers and staff regarding appropriate sanitation and hygiene measures.
• -Frequent sanitization of high-touch surfaces at race venues.
• -Runners are discouraged from participating if they feel ill in any way.
• -Runners are encouraged to follow important health guidelines such as regularly washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes, and maintaining a safe distance from other individuals. 

We remind our participants of the generous transfer/withdrawal/deferral policies that have always been in place at REVEL events. Those who wish to forego participation are encouraged to take advantage of those policies.